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Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Milwaukee

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While kids are out of school this Monday, there are plenty of events in Milwaukee that can connect the youth with the lessons and legacy that we honor on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Here are a few events that will not only entertain and teach everyone about the life of Dr. King but showcases amazing art from Milwaukeeans of all ages.

Milwaukee Public Library: United in Growth, Rooted in Community

The Martin Luther King Branch of the Milwaukee Public Library will be open from 9 am to 5 pm for a celebration. Programming takes place from 9 am to 3:30 pm with activities available for the whole family. Creating a community mural, button making, arts and crafts projects with Vibez Creative Arts Space, and live performances from choirs, youth ensembles, dance companies, and poets will be among the programming. County Executive David Crowley, Mayor Cavalier Johnson, and Ald. Milele Coggs will give opening greetings along with City Librarian Joan Johnson.

The Milwaukee Public Library has printable activities and MLK Day resources available on its website. The resources include a pamphlet collection about Civil Rights in Milwaukee, books available about Civil Rights and the writings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Marcus Performing Arts Center: Working Toward a World of Peace

The 39th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration takes place from 4 to 6 pm. The event celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and highlights the winners of the art, writing, and speech contest. The annual contest gives students a chance to interpret Dr. King’s words into different forms of art. Check out the Marcus Performing Arts Center website for student and educator resource guides.

Milwaukee Bucks: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Game, presented by We Energies

The Bucks are playing a day-game on Monday to let families attend together while kids have a day off of school. In honor of Dr. King’s spirit of volunteerism and community advocacy, there will be a nonprofit fair on the upper concourse of Fiserv Forum. Nonprofits will be able to provide information about their mission and services offered to encourage Bucks fans to get involved in their community and to provide resources to families in need of help from various nonprofits.

During halftime, the 18 winners of We Energies’ annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Speech Contest will be recognized. The winners, K-12 students, wrote speeches about “working toward a world of peace,” inspired by the dreams of Dr. King. To keep with the spirit of the holiday, the Bucks will show a video about 98-year-old Milwaukee resident, Dr. William Finlayson, who worked to bring Dr. King to Milwaukee during the Civil Rights Movement

For more information and to purchase tickets for the Bucks game, visit here.